Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall slams governments for 'farcical' RAT shortage, forcing close contacts into 'limbo'

Mr Marshall called on NSW Health to urgently increase the supply of the tests in rural areas to free people from what he called a "virtual endless lockdown".

The Commonwealth should offer the tests "at a capped price, or free," he said.

A spokesperson for NSW Health said close contacts are entitled to be tested at free COVID-19 testing clinics when they are informed they are a high-risk contact, on day six of their week-long isolation or on any day they develop symptoms, if they are unable to buy any rapid antigen tests.

Current rules require people identified as a 'close contact' of a COVID case to remain in lockdown until they test negative to the virus.

READ MORE:

The MP said there was no easy way for many rural residents to access a rapid antigen test in order to follow the rules correctly.

"I know of a constituent living on a property in the Guyra area, who became a close contact early in January, and has since embarked on what has become the great RAT hunt of 2022," he said

"His family were able to source a limited number of RATs at an inflated cost, but the supply didn't stretch to the whole family.

"When asked for the nearest supply, NSW Health advised the family to take a seven hour round-trip to Coolah, where testing kits were then available.

"It's ridiculous and I'll be pushing for NSW Health to review the supply and really start giving a RATs for our communities."

Mr Marshall contracted COVID-19 last year, before he was eligible to be vaccinated.

"Our communities need immediate access to RATs and the federal government needs to step up and make those kits easily available at a capped price, or free," he said.

People identified as a close contact must confirm a negative RAT result on day one and then day six of their self-isolation.

If they test positive, they isolate for seven days and end self-isolation 24 hours after being symptom-free.

A spokesperson for NSW Health said the state's rapid testing distribution strategy is focused on keeping essential government services, keeping schools open and "providing support to members of our community at-risk of serious illness due COVID 19 or experiencing significant disadvantage."

"As previously announced, the NSW Government has already successfully procured more than 50 million RATs," she said.

"NSW Health's procurement teams are working around-the-clock to procure another 50 million TGA-approved tests for delivery through February and into March.

"These RATs are not being made available to the general public, but it is anticipated that the private supply of tests will pick up in line with the increased Government supply."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: